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Aug 11, 2015 - host communities. 0.25 m. Syrian refugees. Situation Overview. The Iraq humanitarian crisis is deepening.
Iraq: Humanitarian Crisis Situation Report No. 56 (5 – 11 August 2015)

This report is produced by OCHA Iraq in collaboration with humanitarian partners. Due to the rapidly changing situation, it is possible that the numbers and locations listed in this report may no longer be accurate. The next report will be issued on or around 21 August.

Highlights 

The humanitarian crisis in Iraq deepens with about 3.2 million people displaced across the country in the last year and a half.



The fluid security situation continues in Anbar governorate with limited access routes for people to leave the conflict area and reduced supplies reaching the civilian population.



Emergency response is ongoing to displaced people in Anbar, including near the Bzeibiz bridge, in Habbaniyah Tourist City, and in camps in the Ameriyat al Falluja area.



The number of confirmed measles cases between January and July stands at 976. This is higher than confirmed cases in the last two years for the same period. Internally displaced people in Iraq. Source: IOM DTM 31 July 2015

8.6 m

5.6 m

3.2 m

2.9 m

3.2 m

0.25 m

people in need

targeted for assistance

internally displaced people

displaced people live outside camps

affected people in host communities

Syrian refugees

Situation Overview The Iraq humanitarian crisis is deepening. About 3.2 million people have been displaced across the country since January 2014, according to the most recent displacement tracking and monitoring by the International Organization for Migration. The data shows that of the 3,171,606 internally displaced people, the vast majority – 87 per cent – originate from three governorates: Anbar, Ninewa and Salah al-Din. In July, Anbar and Kirkuk governorates produced the highest increase in newly displaced people. Military operations continue in Anbar governorate with daily reports of airstrikes and ground fighting. Displacement out of the conflict area remains limited and access routes for people and basic goods are hampered with many routes from Ramadi and Falluja reportedly blocked or closed. Considering the volatile situation, protection concerns remain high for people who are caught between military front lines and the checkpoints leading to safer territory. About 700 displaced people are reportedly stranded in Rahaliya, south of Ramadi in Anbar, and unable to cross the Razaza checkpoint to Kerbala. The majority of the people, who arrived over a week ago, reside in religious buildings (one hosting up to 600 people) and the palm groves surrounding the town. A limited number of people continue to reach Bzeibiz bridge, which traverses the Euphrates river and links Anbar and Baghdad governorates, but access across the bridge remains restricted. The number of people at the bridge fluctuates, but during the week, over 200 people were said to have been at the checkpoint for more than two days + For more information, see “background on the crisis” at the end of the report www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives

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and in need of assistance. Emergency response is ongoing to displaced people who are staying near the bridge and in camps in the Ameriyat al Falluja area including with food, shelter, health services and water provision. Shelter partners are constructing a new camp to accommodate displaced people. Efforts are also underway to improve access to safe water for 26,100 displaced people in Habbaniyah Tourist City in Anbar. The security situation remained volatile in other areas of the country. On 10 August, a blast in a market in Baquba district in Diyala governorate caused tens of fatalities and injuring many more. The number of confirmed measles cases between January and July this year is higher than those of the last two years. To date, 976 measles cases have been confirmed compared to 834 in 2014 and 603 in 2013. Baghdad and Babylon governorates have registered most cases. A nation-wide measles campaign is yet to take place this year. The Department of Health along with health partners are organising mop-up vaccinations at the localities reporting measles cases to contain the spread of disease.

Humanitarian Response Protection Needs:  

The Bzeibiz bridge/checkpoint between Anbar and Baghdad governorates has mostly remained closed due to the fluid security situation. During the reporting period, over 200 people were said to have been at the checkpoint for more than two days and in need of assistance. About 700 displaced people are reportedly in Rahaliya, south of Ramadi in Anbar, and unable to cross the Razaza checkpoint to Kerbala. The majority of the people, who arrived over a week ago, are residing in religious buildings (one hosting 500-600 people) and the palm groves surrounding the town.

Response: 

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About 7,900 internally displaced people throughout southern and central areas have been covered by protection assessments. Of these, 284 cases were registered for legal assistance/representation and 385 for legal counselling. At least 1,123 vulnerable people were referred to partner organizations that can provide food, household items (primarily hygiene kits) and cash assistance. Advocacy initiatives focused on displaced people's access to safety, registration, child protection and access to basic services. The Ministry of Displacement and Monitoring (MoDM) set up four mobile teams in Anbar to register displaced people in Bzeibiz, Ameriyat al-Falluja and Al-Habbaniyah. MoMD also deployed a registration team to register displaced people from within Anbar in the Al-Nekhaib district. A strategy development session was held with participants from Government ministries, NGOs, and UN agencies in Baghdad to identify key concerns regarding gender-based violence prevention and response. In White camp, in Bzeibiz bridge sub-district in Anbar, child protection partners distributed 290 dignity kits. In Sulaymaniyah, 20 awareness sessions on gender-based violence, women's rights under Iraqi law, and reproductive health were done by five national NGOs. During the reporting period, 813 women and girls visited the women's centres and 12 recreational activity sessions were attended by 214 women and girls. In addition, 388 dignity kits were distributed. 144 house visits were done to introduce parents to the women centres and conduct sessions on genderbased violence and reproductive awareness. Child protection partners in Sulaymaniyah mapped services available across the governorate to improve children’s access to specialized services and assistance. In central Iraq, legal assistance was provided to eight women, including legal representation and legal counselling on birth expenses, child custody, alimony, inheritance, will cancelation, sponsorship, and family deed. Psychosocial services were provided to 16 women. Two child friendly spaces opened in Laylan camp in Kirkuk governorate, with 84 children joining the centres, including three boys with physical disabilities.

Gaps and constraints:   

In White camp, Bzeibiz bridge sub-district, about 500 children are impacted by limited basic services. Lack of funding hampers establishment of a women's space in the Surdash camp in Sulaymaniyah. In Kirkuk, limited presence of child protection actors, particularly through mobile interventions, make it difficult to monitor the overall situation of displaced children and to provide assistance to children in immediate need.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org

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Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Needs:    

About 26,100 displaced people in Habbaniyah Tourist City in Anbar governorate are estimated to require improved WASH assistance. Lack of fuel provision in the area continues to significantly affect services. About 39,000 returnees in Al Daur and Tikrit are assessed to be in need of WASH assistance. About 5,300 people who have returned to Sadiya in Khalis district and 948 people who returned to al Aali in Muqdadiya district in Diyala governorate need access to water and sanitation facilities, and hygiene items. Based on needs assessments completed in several districts in Sulaymaniyah, cluster partners plan to initiate WASH activities for displaced people who reside in unfinished buildings in Piremagrun, Arbat, Barika, Zarain and Chamchamal districts.

Response:      

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About 61,400 displaced people in Anbar, Baghdad, Basrah, Najaf, Salah al-Din and Sulaymaniyah governorates were reached with water services; 31,100 with sanitation services and 18,700 with hygiene items and promotion activities. 2,400 displaced people in Habbaniyah Tourist City in Anbar were supported through desludging of wastewater, collection and disposal of solid waste and installation of water tanks to enhance the water supply. In Al Ameriyat in Falluja district, campaigns to clean and desludge latrines and bathing facilities were done in camps benefitting about 2,370 displaced people. Installation of 32 latrines/showers and four water tanks were completed in Al-Amel Al-Manshood II camp, benefitting 1,536 people. 24,400 displaced people were reached through daily water trucking to various locations in Al Amiriyah in Ramadi district and in the Nukhyb district centre. Latrine and shower clean-up campaigns, desludging, and solid waste collection, were done In Al Takia and Al Kasnazaniya collection centres in the Karkh district in Baghdad, benefitting 7,200 displaced people. About 2,100 displaced people in Tabadol Tijari-al Janabi camp received bottled water. In Baghdad governorate, about 690 displaced people in Al Latifiya camp and people living in unfinished buildings in the Mahmoudiya district were provided with buckets, jerry cans, cool boxes, toilet jugs, garbage bags and hygiene kits. Eight mobile latrines/showers and one water tank were installed for 642 people in Khaimt AlIraq Check Point No 75. In Al Yousufiya sub district, two water tanks were provided for 500 people in Albo Salih camp, one tank was provided to Albo Nemer camp benefitting 250 people. The installation of 16 latrines/showers was completed in Sader Al Yousifyah camp. 4,320 displaced people received buckets, jerry cans, cool boxes, toilet jugs, garbage bags and hygiene kits in Tarmia district in Baghdad. The installation of a 240 metre long water pipeline and water pump was completed in Ma'aqel 5 mile modern market collection centre in Basrah benefitting 1,320 displaced people. 5,000 displaced people and host communities along the Najaf-Kerbala road in Najaf governorate received awareness materials on water conservation and solid waste handling. The rehabilitation of 47 latrines/showers was also completed benefitting 14,000 displaced people along the road. 4,800 people in Al-Daur district centre, and 1,200 people in Al-Zallaiya area in Tikrit district in Salah al-Din were provided with water kits, cool boxes, garbage bags, hygiene kits, toilet soap and water jars. Water trucking and waste management services have continued in Ashti camp in Sulaymaniyah. Support will also be provided to the local authorities to develop a permanent water supply system, including borehole drilling, serving 5,100 people. In Tazade camp in Kalar district, chlorinated water is being provided through an emergency supply system for limited hours (due to phased electricity supply) for 480 people. This interim support is foreseen until the end of October. In Qoratu camp in Khanaqin district in Diyala governorate, water supply, through piped distribution network, continued for 2,080 people.

Gaps and constraints: 

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There is an acute shortage of safe drinking water in Habbaniyah Tourist City in Anbar. Water for domestic use is a critical gap. Plans are in place to address this through: enhancing efficiency of the current water treatment system by installing a mobile water treatment unit with high-capacity tank; upgrading the efficiency of the water treatment plant and installing new intake submersible pumps; continuing to augmenting water supply through additional daily water trucking (56m3 per day) and activating water quality monitoring. The water treatment system is currently not operational in Sitak camp in Sharbazher district in Sulaymaniyah. Across the country, the extreme heat continues to make the WASH situation critical, putting pressure on already limited drinking water supplies.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org

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Shelter and Non-Food Items Needs:  

High temperature resistant shelters for 1,200 displaced people from Anbar and Salah al-Din governorates who have been stranded at Bzeibiz bridge. Tents for 150 people staying at the Al Ameen collective centre in Balad district in Salah al-Din is needed to decongest the collective centre. Kitchen sets and matrasses for 1,200 people are also needed at the Al Hardaniya camp in Balad.

Response:      

To accommodate displaced people at the Bzeibiz bridge in Anbar, 500 tents have been set up. This will enable some people to relocate from existing camps near the bridge. Partners rehabilitated two collective centres sheltering 102 people in Karkh district in Baghdad while 1,200 displaced people received household items for the summer in the Dore area. 3,000 displaced people received household items for the summer in Fares and Balad districts in Salah al-Din. Key items distributed during summer months include a fan or air cooler, cool boxes and water jerry cans. 3,600 displaced people received household items for the summer in Falluja district in Anbar governorate. 840 displaced people received household items for the summer in Tilkaif district in Ninewa governorate. 900 displaced people received household items for the summer in Kerbala district in Kerbala governorate.

Gaps and constraints: 

Limited funding continues to constrain shelter and non-food items support to displaced people.

Health Needs:   

Essential primary and secondary health care services for displaced people and refugees, host communities and other conflict-affected people. Supporting the fixed health facilities and deployment of mobile teams in areas of emerging conflict to support displaced people who live outside camps, including in Ninewa, Anbar and Kirkuk governorates. Early detection and investigation of disease alerts and timely response to outbreaks is essential.

Response:    

27,633 health consultations were done between 1 and 7 August. 2,250 births were assisted by a skilled attendant and 760 caesarean sections were performed in areas where many displaced people reside. Efforts are ongoing to strengthen the disease surveillance system in camps through establishing sentinel sites and distribution of electronic devices (tablets) to focal points. Weekly reports are received from 67 health facilities on epidemic prone diseases. Specialized services such as treatment and medication for chronic disease, including mental health and psychosocial support to displaced and conflict-affected people. In week 32, 5,049 cases were served, including 2,319 hospitalized.

Gaps and constraints:  

Over 80 per cent of programmes providing much needed support to health facilities in areas of high concentration of internally displaced people have been suspended due to lack of funding. The funding shortfall impacts service delivery across the country. Hard-to-reach areas remain a concern particularly for health with limited capacities left within the local health services delivery system and few partners available on ground.

Food Security Needs: 

At least 4.4 million people are estimated to need food assistance. Food partners aim to reach up to 2.2 million affected people under the 2015 Humanitarian Response Plan.

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Vulnerability assessments by the World Food Programme (WFP) show that food insecurity increased in the second quarter of 2015. In Anbar governorate, the percentage of households with poor and borderline food consumption rose from about six percent to 18 per cent between April and June. The agriculture community in Iraq require about 5 million metric tons of wheat seeds and fertilizers for the forthcoming planting season (October/November).

Response:  



Following a comprehensive assessment of the food security and vulnerability status of Syrian refugees living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, WFP will focus its resources on the most vulnerable people. In August, WFP will channel resources (within the response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Iraq), to over 48,000 refugees who still require support to meet their food needs. The monthly voucher value will be reduced to US$10 per person per month for over 47,000 moderately vulnerable refugees, while nearly 1,000 refugees considered the most vulnerable will continue to receive $19 per person per month to meet their food needs. Ready-to-eat food for three days continues as part of the rapid response mechanism to people on the move. In July, over 50,000 people were reached through this modality.

Gaps and constraints:   

The current funding shortfall is putting the emergency response at risk. Food partners would be forced to make further cuts in its food assistance if additional funds are not received. This could include a complete cut in food assistance to some beneficiary groups and/or a scaling back of geographical coverage. Under the current resourcing scenario and despite cost cutting measures, WFP would be forced to stop providing food vouchers for about 450,000 people at the end of September. It would also run out of monthly food rations for a further 1.6 million people at the beginning of October. Due to the disruption caused by ongoing violence, and lack of access in many central and western areas, analysts have identified a gap of 2 million metric tons for wheat. Unless farmers receive urgent support, food security partners expect food insecurity to continue to grow in the coming months.

Camp Coordination and Camp Management Needs:   

Seasonal support including provision of summarization and winterization assistance to displaced people living in the managed camps, the informal settlements and people living in unfinished or abandoned buildings. With frequent power cuts and rising temperatures, vulnerable people, the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions face high level of heat and are at increased risk. The Ashti camp in Sulaymaniyah is overcrowded due to a greater influx than planned. The plan was for 3,600 people, but 5,400 people moved and decongestion is required.

Response:  

The Ashti IDP camp in Sulaymaniyah will be expanded with plots for 15,600 people. The current construction phase should be completed by 18 August. The plots for the first phase will serve 6,000 people. An NGO assessment reported deteriorating nutrition indicators in Shariya IDP camp in Dahuk governorate. Following this report monitoring of the nutrition status has been stepped up with capacity for regular nutrition screening boosted in all camps. Training has taken place, while therapeutic and supplementary food, as well as anthropometric equipment, will be delivered in the coming weeks to Shariya.

Gaps and constraints:  

Construction of a distribution point with shaded waiting area in Mamilian/Dahuk camp in Dahuk governorate. Replacement of damaged tents in Shekhan camp in Dahuk governorate.

Education Needs:  

About 3.2 million school aged children are affected by the current crisis. Over 1 million of these children are displaced school aged girls and boys. About 70 per cent of the displaced children have lost almost a full year of education. In camps, only 50 per cent of children currently have access to education. In host communities (where most displaced people live), the situation is worse, with only 30 per cent receiving any type of education.

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Where available, most schools are full, overcrowded and cannot accommodate all displaced students. High pupil to teacher ratios, inadequate number of qualified teachers, and a limited number of teachers with training either on psychosocial care and support or special needs categorise these schools

Response:      



221,000 school-aged displaced boys and girls have been supported to access education opportunities. Education partners continue to organize catch-up classes and summer activities for displaced children in Baghdad (in response to the Anbar crisis), Dahuk, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk who have missed out on a significant part of the last school year. A series of training workshops on psycho-social support, improved pedagogy, and school governance for 55 displaced school teachers and education supervisors have taken place in Kirkuk. An education partner is providing support for district education offices in Kirkuk to provide teachers training on various subjects including English, maths and science according to the assessed needs. Since January this year, education partners have trained over 2,350 teachers and education personnel. The construction process of a prefab school in Baghdad (Alnehrawan IDP school) benefitting 400 displaced children was completed and is being handed over to the Department of Education. Three prefab classrooms were also established in two schools in Kharkh 1, Baghdad, benefitting 885 students (317 displaced students and 568 host community students). Cluster partners are coordinating back-to-school activities advocating for earlier registration, promotion of school attendance, and distribution plans of school supplies in preparation of the new school year.

Gaps and constraints:    

Due to the displacements in Anbar governorate since April, the number of displaced learners has increased by about 35,000 people. Security is hindering provision of services to learners in Anbar and Salah al-Din governorates. Limited capacity in warehouses prevents pre-positioning of supplies at governorate level. There is a lack of resources and funding within the education sector. Schools lack the necessary desks, books and additional school material to ensure the basic quality of education, and families need support for expenses for learning materials and transportation.

Logistics Response:    

Efforts continue to ensure common services to partners in Erbil and Dahuk governorates and to expand the presence in Baghdad to better support southern and central operations. The cluster compiles information on partners' logistics capacity, gaps and needs to facilitate transport and coordination for humanitarian convoys. The warehouse stock balance in Dahuk stands at 57.038 metric tons (466.892 m3) of relief non-food items belonging to three partners. In Erbil the stock balance is 12.376 metric tons (56.222 m3). During the week, 0.7 metric tons (2.663 m3) of items donated by the Qatar Charity Foundation were released to a humanitarian partner from the Erbil warehouse in support of their relief operation in Dahuk governorate. Challenges for the cluster include limited storage capacity for pre-positioning and contingency stocks, mainly due to access constraints, rapidly changing security environment and increasing humanitarian needs.

Background on the crisis Wide-scale violence and armed conflict erupted in Iraq in January 2014. Initially concentrated in Anbar Governorate, with the cities of Ramadi and Falluja particularly affected, the violence and its impact quickly grew, displacing over 500,000 people by May. In June 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), together with other armed groups, attacked and seized control of Mosul and large portions of northern Iraq, including areas of Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa, and Salah al-Din governorates. This has led to ongoing armed conflict, massive internal displacement, serious and systematic violations of civilian protection and basic human rights, interrupted access to basic services, and severe strain on host communities. As a result, Iraq is now contending with one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with over 8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance as of July 2015.

For further information, please contact: Cecilia Attefors, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, [email protected], Tel: +964 (0)751 1352880 David Swanson, Public Information Officer, [email protected], Tel: +964 (0)751 1844379 For more information, please visit http://iraq.humanitarianresponse.info

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org